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Port Melbourne holds off Tigers to retain top spot

Brent Diamond

Port Melbourne's resilience in the final term helped it retain top spot with its 13th win of the season, a 24-point win over the Werribee Tigers at Avalon Airport Oval.

Werribee's last quarter was rocked by an injury to prominent midfielder Michael Sodomaco (dislocated shoulder) and restricted interchange rotations because North Melbourne defender Nathan Grima, who got through unscathed, played a scheduled half game on return from injury.

Fittingly, it was Port skipper John Baird, in game 201, who finished the Tigers off with a brilliant goal although he did suffer an injury scare early in the final term.

Werribee gave the Borough a significant fright in the final term, and if it had turned its costly inaccuracy in front of goal around it may have been a different story. Instead, Werribee's top four hopes took a hit and it is now a game and a half behind fourth-placed Box Hill, which suffered a significant loss of its own on Saturday to Collingwood.

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Pies VFL coach Dale Tapping said: "At VFL level now, if you come in and you're a bit off, you come up short. It's been a great competition with challenges each week. We've got Essendon next week and they're in the same boat as us, it's going to be another top challenge for us."

Port coach Gary Ayres said he was proud of his team on Sunday, given it had to fight relentlessly to win after a Ben Warren goal got the Tigers within nine-points late in the final term.

One of Port's revelations of course has been star recruit Daniel Connors, who was previously sacked by Richmond for off-field issues.

He kicked another two goals on Sunday to edge himself back into the top five leading goalkickers in the competition.

"He (Connors) has obviously got a bit of pressure on him but he's certainly been pretty dynamic for us and that's a credit to him because he's obviously had a bit of a rough road over the last couple of years,” Ayres said. "But he shows a glimpse of what he's capable of at times and if we can get him to be a little bit more constructive in moments, then it would obviously make his contribution even greater.”

"He (Connors) is a cut above, obviously he was a very good player at AFL level but to come back here and to apply himself the way he has has been fantastic, so hopefully we can have him in a good frame of mind going forward in the finals," Valenti said.

Toby Pinwill, at 29, is in career-best form. The Borough cult-figure and seasoned midfielder is primed to take out this year's Liston Trophy given his consistent form for the league leader.

"I think what the difference is for Toby is that he's been able to play more than about eight or nine games this year," Ayres said.

Ayres has shaped the proud stand-alone team into a powerhouse once more.

Ayres also praised Tom O'Sullivan for his improved efforts this season – and has kept his place in the senior squad despite the inclusions of ball-magnets James Magner and Marcus Marigliani around him.

Even Lachlan Waddell, the 23rd player, has had a remarkable impact in just his first three games at the club again reinforcing its positive relationship with the Oakleigh Chargers.

In other matches, Footscray has jumped to second spot on the ladder after thumping Bendigo by 131 points. Daniel Giansiracusa starred with 27 disposals and a goal, while Liam Jones, Ayce Cordy and Jarrad Grant each snared four goals each as the Dogs kept the Gold to 1.10 (16) for the match.

North Ballarat has jumped to sixth spot on the ladder after an impressive 26-point win over the Coburg Lions.